Troy Hall has been part of the Honors College for a little over a year, serving as Associate Dean and contributing significantly to the academic direction of the college. Her work centers on shaping and supporting the honors curriculum — from coordinating seminars and courses to developing policies that guide students through the thesis process. In addition, Troy collaborates closely with the advising team to ensure the Honors College meets the needs of its diverse student community. In her free time, Troy enjoys gardening, knitting and walking her dog. In this Q&A, Troy reflects on her favorite memories and experiences within the Honors College and what motivations guide her work.
Q: What is your role in the Honors College?
One of my main jobs is to oversee the curriculum -- everything from scheduling seminars and classes to guiding policies around thesis completion. I organize the Summer Read, including selecting the book and recruiting faculty to lead discussions. I work with the advising team to ensure that we are meeting the needs of our very diverse student body, and I work with faculty to help them understand what is different about teaching in honors and how to mentor students in their thesis. I also lead the annual faculty and student surveys which are critical tools for us to assess how well we're doing and identify opportunities and gaps in our classes and services.
Q: What's one project or initiative you've worked on that you're especially proud of?
I especially enjoy the annual development of seminar courses (HC407 sections). It's fun to see the variety and creativity faculty bring to their seminars, and I love meeting with faculty to brainstorm ideas for new topics. The flexible and experimental nature of seminars gives a unique opportunity for us to be adaptable in the curriculum, incorporate current issues and expose students to a range of topics and ideas they might otherwise never have a chance to consider.
Q: What kind of questions can you answer from honors community members?
I am happy to connect with students who may be struggling to find thesis topics or mentors, and I can answer any questions about the curriculum requirements and course offerings. For faculty partners, I can address questions related to honors pedagogy and expectations for thesis mentors.
Q: What's something you enjoy doing outside of work?
I have an 18-month-old Belgian tervuren, so I enjoy walking her a LOT. I am also an avid knitter and gardener.
Q: What's a book, podcast or movie that's inspired you or made you think recently?
This is a tough one, since I'm a big reader! Recent books I've enjoyed include Daughters of the Flower Fragrant Garden (non-fiction), Transcendent Kingdom (fiction), The Heaven and Earth Grocery Store (fiction) and The Covenant of Water (fiction). If you want a quirky cli-fi book, try The Venomous Lumpsucker.
Q: If you had the opportunity to work on an HC thesis today, what do you think the theme or title would be?
I'd probably do something related to climate change communication.
Q: What's one of your favorite memories or moments from working in the Honors College?
Learning about all the different student thesis projects during the Thesis Fair.
Q: What's something you've learned from the HC community that's influenced you?
I've been inspired at how motivated so many students are about learning and making a difference in society. It gives me hope for the future!
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